One way that scientists have been trying to fight climate change is by finding ways to limit methane gas emissions in cattle — in other words, by making cows burp less. Making a totally belch-less bovine is impossible, but dietary changes can limit the gas emitted.

Imagine a world where farmers didn’t raise animals. No cows in the pasture or pigs in their pens. No chickens laying eggs or sheep being sheared. What kind of effect would it have on society? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Virginia Tech set out to answer this question with a recent investigation.